South Lanarkshire Council contacted Russell Play to assist in creating the play area of a new picnic and play site that was being planned on behalf of the New Lanark World Heritage Site.
New Lanark first approached South Lanarkshire Council to help with a design proposal so they could apply for funding for this new development.
The Council chose Russell Play as it was able to provide the equipment that would fulfil the brief and also the expertise to install it in what was quite a challenging location.
Originally a cotton-spinning mill, New Lanark is now a popular tourist and family attraction under the care of the New Lanark Trust, in partnership with South Lanarkshire Council and Historic Scotland. As well as being a visitor attraction, it also has a residential population that helps in the site's preservation.
As an attraction it offers a range of educational experiences for visitors, including the mill, museum, village store and historic school classroom. The Clearburn Picnic and Play Area was to form part of a newly developed nature trail and enhance the already popular local attraction. The Trust was successful in getting funding from The Big Lottery Fund to realise their new plans.
The reason Russell Play was chosen was that they met several important criteria in fulfilling the brief. Firstly, the play equipment had to be natural looking so as to blend with the surrounding woodland area and nearby stream. The extensive robinia timber range from Russell Play gave the customer a huge choice of possibilities in natural play equipment.
The steep hill location of the play area meant that the equipment had to be able to fit into the natural contours of that landscape. The units therefore had to be bespoke and flexible in their installation. The Russell Play timber range is completely bespoke so can be modified to suit any situation or terrain. The location of the play area meant that it would not be possible to deliver to site a whole unit and place it in situ, so it required an experienced installer. The restricted access meant that Russell Play had the equipment passed through in sections then assembled where it was to be located.
Another requirement for the facility was to cater for children of a variety of ages and also for units to fit in with the other items planned for the themed area. A large low rope climbing and balancing beam unit was installed to give older children a challenge. Nearby, up the slope of the hill a traditional themed playhouse was placed for children of all ages but with particular appeal for smaller children. Another lower level unit with slide, two climbing ramps and playhouse combined by a long platform provided a range of activities for a mixture of ages.
The play area looks fantastic, blending with the nature of its surroundings and is enjoyed by many visiting parties of children throughout the year.
The new play area was Highly Commended in the category of Community Play Space within a National Tourist Attraction from the Nancy Ovens Trust Play Awards 2015.
The remarkably well preserved New Lanark Mills is one of Scotland's six UNESCO World Heritage sites. It started life as a cotton mill village built in the late eighteenth century on the River Clyde in central Scotland.
A large part of its historical significance is down to the concern shown by its owner Robert Owen towards the well-being of his workforce. The layout and planning of the site in its green surroundings, its spacious housing and school for the workers' children had a major influence on social developments in the 19th century and beyond.
